We've all heard about self-care, but now more than ever it is so important to make sure we are practicing it. Self care is simple, but it is not always easy to find the time or the motivation to do it. Self care in its simplest form is the things you do to keep your body and mind healthy. These six things are things you can do at home to make sure you are taking care of you, while taking care of your family, during this scary, strange time.
Meditate
Meditation. One of the biggest benefits of meditation is "relief from stress and anxiety" according to The Chopa Center. While meditation doesn't come easy to everyone it is something everyone can do and you can get better with practice.
Move Your Body
Moving your body doesn't have to be complicated. Go for a walk or house walk, go for a hike, do some yoga, kick a soccer ball around with the kids, jump rope, do some jumping jacks or sign up for a virtual training session. According to Dr. Srini Pillay from Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA "regular aerobic exercise can reduce anxiety by making your brain’s “fight or flight” system less reactive" and "meditative movement has been shown to alleviate depressive symptoms".
Be sure to follow all current rules regarding social distance or shelter in place depending on what is happening where you live.
Get Enough Sleep
The National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute says "sleep plays a vital role in good health and well-being throughout your life. Getting enough quality sleep at the right times can help protect your mental health, physical health, quality of life, and safety." I know for me personally my patience goes out the window when I am not getting enough sleep, and my concentration suffers. The amount of sleep needed varies, but be sure you are getting enough by shutting off electronics several hours before bed, cutting back on caffeine, exercising and drinking enough water during the day.
Drink Plenty of Water
According to the Harvard School of Public Health "being well-hydrated also improves sleep quality, cognition, and mood." I don't know about you by my mood and sleep quality could booth use a boost right now. If you don't like plain regular water add some fruit, cucumbers or mint. Strawberries and pineapple are my favorite combo. Things like seltzer and soup broth count toward your water intake too!
Eat Healthy
Maxine Barish-Wreden, M.D., ABIHM from Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento, CA says that "a healthy, well-balanced diet can help us think clearly and feel more alert. It can also improve concentration and attention span. Conversely, an inadequate diet can lead to fatigue, impaired decision-making, and can slow down reaction time. In fact, a poor diet can actually aggravate, and may even lead to, stress and depression." So, while we may tend to steer toward comfort foods during times of stress make sure there is some balance in your diet too with fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other healthy options.
Do Something Just For You
This has been really hard for me this past week. The kids are home, I'm working from home (not new but doing it with the kids home is harder), and my husband is working extra hours. Add not being able to leave the house and finding time for me hasn't been easy, but my mood improves noticeably when I take time for myself. For me, this means shutting off social media after a certain time, making sure we all get out into nature as much as possible, and crocheting. For you it could be taking a bubble bath, calling up a girl friend to chat, making time every day to read, etc. It doesn't matter what you do as long as you take some time as often as possible to do something just for yourself.
